The Middle Earth Festival is free, but every other word you will hear is ‘Charge!’

That’s because round every corner there is one group or another going into battle.

The 2016 event is being held in Hall Green's beautiful Shire Country Park from 10am-11pm on Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4.

And those looking to do the most damage close to the banks of the River Cole are the Birmingham Vikings.

Also known as Dahrg de Belne, they each need three months of training to learn how to be authentic yet safe when unleashing their eight main attack and defence moves.

Selfie time for Gandalf (Image: Graham Young)

These fearsome, bearded beasts arrive fully tooled with shields and swords and any ‘berserker’ not fully trained is put through a series of special challenges while the public are kept behind two safety ropes.

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With everything from the ancient art of axe throwing, to readings, living history camps, a farmers’ market, medieval combat displays, archery, crafts and children’s activities there's something for everyone.

Not least the chance to try on armoury from a stall run by Louise and Mark Vance from Historical Entertainments and Events, or to try to recognise Tolkien’s characters as presented by a variety of cosplay performers.

Two illustration students had even come up specially from London – Sarah Hingley as the ‘Elevenking’ Thranduil and Anna Chamberlain as Saruman, Lord of Isengard – a major antagonist in The Lord of the Rings as the Istari leader out to challenge Sauron.

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Anna still can’t believe that film director Peter Jackson chopped Saruman (played by Christopher Lee) out of the third film, The Return of the King.

Sarah Hingley (left) as Thranduil from The Hobbit with Anna Chamberlain as Saruman (Image: Graham Young)

“But he is in the extended DVD version,” she smiled, before getting ready to see Tolkien’s former childhood home on the Wake Green Road close to Moseley Bog, now with a splendid boardwalk all the way round the wettest areas.

How much is the Middle Earth Festival?

Admission is free, but there is still a charge for the Grade II listed Sarehole Mill nearby – reduced to £3 for adults and £1 for children for the weekend.

There is also an additional fee for those booking to go on The Origins of Middle Earth Guided Walk to Moseley Bog at 1pm from the Mill (£5 adults, £2 children).